Applications Research Engineer, Nanotechnology & Microscopy

Applications Research Engineer

Microscopy & Metrology Semiconductor Process Equipment

Atom Force Microscopy & Nano-Characterisation

Oxford

£52K – £55K + Excellent benefits package including Healthcare, Generous Contributory Pension Scheme and Full and Comprehensive Manufacturers based Product Training

An excellent opportunity for an Engineer with a background in manufacturing or Research & Development or to join a market leading manufacturer of sophisticated semiconductor process equipment, offering first class product training and unsurpassed opportunities for career development

The Company – Applications Research Engineer, Microscopy & Metrology Semiconductor Process Equipment

My client is a global leader in innovative and complex semiconductor process equipment, with cutting edge patented technology in metrology based industrial microscopy, used for integrated process control.

Offering 'best in class' solutions across a wide range of innovative instrumentation, their success is based upon a commitment to world leading manufacturing facilities, outstanding product innovation, excellent customer care and the recruitment and development of good people.

The Role – Applications Research Engineer, Microscopy & Metrology Semiconductor Process Equipment

This innovative technology leader now has an exciting opportunity for an Applications Research Engineer.

The Applications Research Engineer role is a nanostructure characterisation and functionality development role, with data analysis capabilities. Some examples of what the role would encompass (non-exhaustive):

• Testing new prototype functionality and feedback to developers
• Establish and validate new functionality performance
• Characterise challenging nanostructures
• Suggest adjustment to development path to facilitate user workflow
• Image processing and analysis to extract key performance metrics
• Interacting with other teams to understand and document how specific sections of the instrument works
• Quick data analysis on tool logs

The team will meet for a 30min daily catchup aimed at learning from the previous day, planning for the day and adjust direction when new information is brought up. Expect a highly dynamic role and environment!

Research requires a constant exposition towards broader horizon. Consequently, this role will include short placement in other departments within the company (e.g.: engineering, manufacturing, service, etc…) as well as topic specific training when and where the company and personal goals of the applicant are aligned. The role can also include short trips to customer sites (≈ 1 week).

Key Responsibilities:

• Imaging functionality design, testing and validation
• Imaging performance validation
• Data analysis
• Design documents
• Scope of work describing in sufficient details a piece of work to be executed by another department
• Presentations/Training to the rest of the business
• Consult on projects and customer requests
• Issue root causing

The Opportunity and the role:

This organisation is creating a Research team to focus on exploratory work and feasibility studies, when problems require fast evaluations of different approaches, fundamental changes or holistic approach.

The team aims to explore changes to technology from the simplest to the most exploratory to derisk technical solutions and link them up with future needs of the semiconductor industry. While each role in the Research team has its own field of expertise, the team works closely together and heavily focuses on problems to solve, even when outside of their field of expertise. In this respect, creativity and problem-solving skills are critical to this endeavour. Some problems will require makeshift solutions while some others will require in-depth understanding with experimental testing and associated critical thinking. The team will work closely with the engineering departments to ensure smooth transitions from ideas to product. The Research director will ensure connections with relevant teams where needed (engineering, manufacturing, applications, customer service).

Your Background – Applications Research Engineer, Microscopy & Metrology Semiconductor Process Equipment

To be considered for this exciting opportunity, you must be able to demonstrate the following skills and attributes:

• Creativity: Comes up with new solutions. When blocked with a problem, can find alternatives, workarounds or hacks to get to a solution.
• Problem solving: Keen to solve problem of all difficulties, independently of field of expertise.
• Critical thinking: Does not take results and information at face value and exercise critical thinking to extract the core information.
• Teamwork: Engages with other members for the team and company to bring the best solutions to the problem. Supports colleagues with their tasks when critical to the company goals.
• Communication: Present, share and exchange ideas with colleagues and other teams.
• Ownership & Initiative: React and address both short- and medium-term issues and proactively takes action to solve them.

Education / Qualifications:

• Either a BSc/BEng/Msc in Physics, Engineering or similar, or a clear equivalent path through engineering apprenticeship and design/development positions.
• 5 years of experience in an engineering or research role

Professional Skills/ Abilities:

• Experience working with instrumentation for technology or science.
• Experience in nano-characterisation, for example:

1. Atomic force microscopy (essential)
2. Scanning electron microscopy (desirable)
3. Focused Ion Beam (desirable)
4. Profilers (desirable)

• Experience in prototyping and integrating instrumentation
• Experience with instrument testing and validation
• Familiarity with semiconductor characterisation
• Data analysis and algorithmic skills
• Proficiency in data analysis tools, such as Python, Matlab, Excel, etc…

The Benefits – Applications Research Engineer, Microscopy & Metrology Semiconductor Process Equipment

This is an excellent opportunity to join a world class semiconductor systems organisation. You will be joining an innovative management team who take great pride in their work and who aim to build upon long term relationships with customers. You will be continually challenged as you are exposed to new technologies.

A generous remuneration package is also guaranteed, including competitive salary and benefits package, along with the opportunity to progress your career within a market leading organisation.

This vacancy is being advertised by TRS Consulting (UK) Limited. The services advertised by TRS Consulting (UK) Limited are those of an employment agency and / or employment business.